Worst case scenario needle stick

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Yep

After reading about other people panicking on allnurses about the cursed needle stick....I can finally join the club.

Unfortunately.

These are the facts:

1. drawing labs with a butterfly, and about to retract

2. Patient moved unexpectedly and rapidly

3. needle pierced my hand

4. I was wearing gloves

5. I bled a lot under my gloves, indicating a deeper stick

6. Patient was a confirmed HIV+ with fairly high viral load according to last labs

7. Patient was already confirmed Hep C+

8. I started antiviral HIV meds within an hour and a half after incident

9. There are no prophylaxis meds for hep C

10. The labs were redrawn anyways on the patient (but not holding hope for a previous mistake)

10. I already know the statistics, as I was counseled heavily at work

My question is, how do I sleep at night, I am so so so upset, the kind of upset that makes you want to "turn back to 5" and crawl into your mom's lap and cry

Any support welcome

Specializes in Emergency.
please consider talking with your eap to get you though this event.

in 1998, karen dailey rn suffered similar event and became hiv positive---her efforts lead to needlestick safety legislation and today she is ana president.

sharps safety: karen daley, mph, rn

karen daley: a needlestick changed ana president's life - phts

one can succeed after this incident.

interesting articles, thanks for linking them.

as i was reading how karen daley was stuck by a syringe in a sharps container, it makes me a little nervous to be honest about our sharps containers. we used to have the pull & flip style ones. about a year ago, our hospital switched to a different company and we get new containers that just have an opening on the top. many times, i've seen them overflowing or near to.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Sharps units need to be changed when 3/4 full as preventive to needlestick from syringe that jumps out.... that ounce of prevention worth pound of cure sage advice.

Specializes in Emergency.

Sadly, that doesn't always happen. And if I happen to notice it when I come on (I work nocs), it's a suck it up & deal with it situation. We don't have access to the extra containers.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

First of all, let me say I am so sorry this happened to you. This is a terrifying event.

I will share what happened to me.

Before I became a RN, I was a Dental Hyienist. I was working at a state HIV dental clinic part time while I was going to nursing school. I had practiced for years and of course was always extremely careful--especially there.

We took over the top precautions--this was 1990--and we gowned, goggled, masked and doubled gloved. Well, one day one of my scalers slipped and impaled itself into the palm of my hand...thru 2 pair of gloves!!!!!!

And if course my patient was HIV +, they ALL were...he was SO upset, I think more than I was...and he felt so bad...anyway, they talk about your whole life passing before your eyes...I thinks it's true.

I know I broke out in a cold sweat, and remember, this was the very early 90's where AIDs was an immediate DEATH sentance and also you were still practically shunned from many places.

The HIV medical clinic was right next store, so I went there, and did the blood work, the counseling, the anti virals (for what they were then) and thank God nothing ever happened.

And that was 21 years ago...things were SO different regarding this disease back then.

But I really can say, I know how you feel and it's scary, hang in there, take care of yourself, try not to stress too much, eat healthy, get lots of rest and take the meds.

Anyway, GOOD LUCK..the new antivirals are really great and there are SO many more weapons in the orificenal now to combat this disease.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am so sorry to hear this. There are no words I can say to make you feel better, but please know you are in my prayers.

Specializes in post-op.

Dont have words of advice, just want you to know that I am sorry that this happened to you. Like someone else said utilize your work EAP. I've been stuck before and the whole situation is just scary. (((Hugs)))

I really am very sorry that this has happened to you. Only time will give you answers, and the waiting is so hard. You did nothing wrong, you were trying to help someone and an accident happened. It sounds like your facility is on top of things, getting you the meds and counseling you on the odds. The meds are the best course of action for you to follow right now, and you are doing that. I agree that you may want to seek out support to help you cope until you know you are in the clear.

Please let us know how it goes. You are not alone.

Specializes in CCRN, House Sup, CCT, Unit Director, ICU.

So sorry to hear about this. Breathe. Know you are not alone and you have MANY people praying for you and thinking about you.

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I don't have any advice but I am so sorry this happened to you. Please take care.

:hug:

Tait

Specializes in CVSICU, Cardiac Cath Lab.

*hug*

Specializes in ER.

Thanks guys.

I don't work today, and I really want to call the hospital to talk to either EAP or the employee health department where I was counseled already and have them reiterate the percentages to me, and the personal statistics from this particular hospital.

And then I want them to do it again, and again and again.

"0.3% for HIV transmission with blood to blood contact

3% for hep C"

But it feels as though those numbers go up and down depending on "factors" and I feel I get vague scripted answers.

I just want to state, since I noticed there is another post going about HIV and universal precautions, That I did everything humanly possible to be safe, but when you have a patient perform aerobics on you spontaneously...what can you do?

This all happened in under a second, and the damage was done.

I know that I don't have years of experience, but I'm not sure that I would ever develop reflexes quick enough to have changed to situation.....the patient gave no indication that they were anything but cooperative up until this point.

I'm very angry today

Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I am so sorry LaughingRN. This is one of my biggest fears, and I am sorry that it is now your reality. I will be thinking of you and I hope for the best.

+ Add a Comment